What does the Bible say about generational curses?

from the old testament

• Generational curses are mentioned only in the Old Testament: “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6; cf. Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9).
• Despite the severity of the warning, God did not leave the Israelites with no hope (Leviticus 26:39–42). Numbers 14:19–20 shows that forgiveness was available to all Israelites. Exodus 20:6 explains that God's lovingkindness is available to those who love Him and keep His commands, for thousands of generations. This clearly infers that the generations being punished for their fathers' sins did not repent and seek forgiveness. Instead, they continued in their fathers' evil ways.
• Deuteronomy 5:9-10 repeats the warning about generational consequences of sin but also highlights God's enduring love for those who obey Him.
• Deuteronomy 7:9 declares God's faithfulness to His covenant, showing mercy to a thousand generations of the righteous.
• The generational curse mentioned in the Bible was a warning given to Jews that they were to worship only God, not idols. If one generation fell away from God and worshiped pagan gods, God warned that He would "visit the iniquity" on several future generations. What Israelites did affected the entire nation (see Joshua 7). Since the Messiah of the world was to come out of Israel, all of Israel was called to follow God.
• Ezekiel 18:20 clarifies individual responsibility for our sin, stating that each person bears their own guilt or righteousness.
• Some deliverance ministry advocates believe that generational curses can affect family members and that a demon can pass down hardships or sins across generations. They teach that while accepting Christ breaks the curse, it does not remove the demon, which can still cause problems unless it is specifically addressed through repentance and deliverance. There are two issues with this. The first is that Scripture indicates Christians cannot be demon possessed. The second is that generational curses were never said to involve demonic forces. Exodus 20:5–6 and the other verses clearly state that God punished the generations. There is no mention of a "bondage" or illness or even the curse of a sin passed down by the work of a demon.

from the new testament

• Generational curses are not specifically mentioned in the New Testament. Instead, Romans 8:1 tells us that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” and the chapter continues explaining that all who believe in Christ have the Spirit in them. This passage assures believers that through Jesus, they are no longer bound by any sin that would condemn them but are free to live for the things of God.
• Galatians 3:13–14 tells us that Christ took on the curse of sin and death for us so that all who believe in Him are freed from all curses and filled with the Holy Spirit: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.’”
• John 14:16-17 promises the Holy Spirit as a personal and empowering presence for believers. The Holy Spirit allows us to overcome and tendency or sin in our own lives and in the lives of our families.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares believers as new creations in Christ, leaving past sins and curses behind.

implications for today

Are there generational curses today? Not in the sense mentioned in the Old Testament. It is true that whether by influence or genetic predisposition, families can see sins like addiction or rage pass through several generations. "Bondage" issues such as ill health or misfortune can be explained the same way. A demon is not necessary to pass heart disease to the children of parents who don't know how to eat healthfully.

"Deliverance" from such a situation is straightforward for the most part. We take our sin to Christ, ask Him to heal us, and work with Him by refusing to continue sinning. For health issues, we can ask for healing, but it doesn't mean God will see fit to cure us. But if one generation rejects God or becomes a Freemason, it doesn't mean a demon will give the next four generations diabetes.

Understanding that generational curses are not applicable to those in Christ empowers us to break free from any negative patterns or behaviors we may have inherited from our families, give them to the Lord, take ownership of what we can control, and instead allow the Holy Spirit to grow in us His fruit (Galatians 5:22–23). We can take proactive steps to cultivate new, positive habits and attitudes, rooted in faith and guided by the Holy Spirit. By consciously choosing to live out our identity in Christ, we not only experience personal freedom and growth but also set a positive example for future generations, ensuring that they inherit a legacy of faith, hope, and love. This practical application calls us to regularly reflect on our lives, repent of any sins, and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and power to live righteously.